King James: Daemonologie (1597 First Edition)

CHAPTER II.

What kind of sin the practitioners of these unlawful arts commit. The division of these arts. And what means allure any to practice them.

But I think it very strange that God should permit any of mankind (since they bear His own Image) to fall into such a gross and filthy defection original: "defection"; meaning a desertion of faith or apostasy.

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Genesis 1

EPISTEMON: Although man was made in the Image of the Creator at his Creation, yet having once lost it through his fall referring to the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden, it is only partially restored by grace, and only to the elect those chosen by God for salvation. Therefore, all the rest who fall away from God are handed over to the power of the Devil, that enemy, to bear his image instead. Once they are so handed over, the greatest and grossest impiety wickedness or lack of reverence becomes the most pleasant and delightful thing to them.

PHILOMATHES: But would it not be enough for him to rule indirectly and cause the perdition eternal damnation of so many souls by alluring them to vices and the pursuit of their own appetites? Why must he deceive so many simple souls by making them directly acknowledge him as their master?

EPISTEMON: Certainly not; for he uses every man over whom he has control according to their temperament original: "complexion"; the medieval/renaissance idea of the balance of bodily humors determining personality and knowledge. Thus, to those whom he finds most simple, he reveals himself most plainly. Because he is the enemy of man's salvation, he uses all the means he can to entrap them so...